Xavier Centre of Historical Research - XCHR's Library

XCHR's Library

An article says: "On one of the well-maintained shelves, one can page through original copies of the first newspaper to be published from Goa. Gazeta de Goa was brought out in 1821, and lists political and other "news" across its now-fragile pages. One brief item reports on the war between Russia and Turkey, giving a hint of what readers in Goa got to read in those days."

It adds: "On other shelves of this library, one can learn a whole vast amount of interesting tid-bits about Goa.... XCHR's book collection has been steadily growing. From 1993 to 1995, for instance, it grew from 13,000 to 16,000.... Computer printouts of the indexes of XCHR are available, while there is also a microfilm reader on hand. In keeping with the wealth of information this centre contains, even the prestigious US Library of Congress has evinced interest in its information."

The research library has a "substantial collection" of published and unpublished research material in English, Portuguese and other languages. This includes the manuscripts from the Mhamai House of Panjim (Panaji), which pertains to private coastal and hinterland trade during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

According to the XCHR, its library shelves house over 30,000 volumes with its main sections comprising books dealing with:

• Asia during the Portuguese presence in the East.
• Issues impacting developing countries.
• The Church in Goa/ India.
• Jesuits in Goa/India.
• Goan and Indo-Portuguese history.
• History of Indo-Portuguese Christian Art.

Books can be consulted in a reading room on the XCHR premises, for which library membership is required.